Avoiding misunderstandings in verbal and nonverbal communication when negotiating ‘across cultures’ can be a challenge. In fact, foreign entrepreneurs are often concerned that mistakes in handling business negotiations in China could result in a loss of opportunities. In this webinar, Jinxuan (Ann) Zhang will provide you with an overview of how to gain your Chinese partnerâs trust and handle conflict situations.

For many foreign corporations, developing the Chinese market has become a toppriority. Although the situation has shown signs of improvement, foreign corporationsand executives still face a dilemma when doing business with China: how to dealwith the gift and hospitality challenges and, at times, the customs of unspoken or“hidden” rules?

Set up in 1996, the Wahaha-Danone joint venture (JV) partnership helped establish Wahaha as one of China’s best-known brands and became a major contributor to Danone’s fast-growing business in China. However, despite the success, in 2007 the companies were embroiled in legal battles and a bitter public feud over Danone’s attempt to gain a share of the non-JV Wahaha group companies. In Chapter 16 of the OWP Book 2008, “Riding the winds of global change”, (to be published in September 2008), Professor Stewart Hamilton and Research Associate Jinxuan (Ann) Zhang outline key lessons from the dispute.

Q: How to avoid my new business model or concept being copycat by our potential competitors? Particularly our competitors have more resources and they want to copy our model to launch a consumer App product.

Is it a wrong strategy to pitch our idea to other people when it is still at a very early stage?

A: Copycat is a fact of life. The Swiss pharmaceutical industry, for instance, can be traced back as copycats of the German’s and the whole Chinese ‘Shanzai’ industry are essentially copycats.

The initial plan for showcasing Chinese cuisine on Sunday, June 26th at a French restaurant in the Swiss Alps, was a "Menu Surprise." That was, spontaneous cooking by me, the master chef of the day. It changed at the last minute though due to the high demand of handmade Chinese dumplings.

Well, not a surprise, it's almost the most famous Chinese food for laowai (foreigners).

Q: My Company is organizing an LPS (luxury property show), where we are going to market some of our best real estate products, but none of us were in the sales before. Any advice on how to do the event planning and attract fortune generations (富二代 is like rich family’s children)?

A: I’m not sure that you have the right questions here, even though there isn’t enough information on your company and the real estate products you are trying to market.